Brain-signal changes observed during mindfulness neurofeedback; mental health benefits remain unproven
A systematic review examined brain measurements during meditation with feedback, including whether changes extended beyond training and whether mental health benefits were established.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review reported brain-signal changes during mindfulness neurofeedback, but mental health benefits remain unestablished. For the brain imaging studies specifically, evidence that changes transferred beyond training was lacking, and inadequate controls complicated interpretation. Electrical recording studies offered the strongest evidence for changes in theta activity, without establishing a mental health benefit.
Most imaging studies lacked adequate controls, limiting attribution of observed changes to neurofeedback. This abstract-based explanation cannot assess the individual studies’ methods or clinical outcomes in detail.
What the measurements showed
Brain imaging studies mainly aimed to reduce activity in the default-mode network. Electrical recordings examined several frequency bands, with the strongest evidence involving theta activity. These observations concern brain signals; their implications for mental health remain uncertain.
Why controls matter
Lower default-mode activity could reflect performing a task rather than a specific contribution from neurofeedback. The review calls for randomized trials using sham feedback. Such comparisons could help distinguish feedback-related changes from changes accompanying task performance.
The original publication
Mindfulness-based neurofeedback: A systematic review of EEG and fMRI studies.
Treves IN, Greene KD, Bajwa Z et al.
Imaging Neurosci (Camb) · 2024
- PubMed ID
- 40800428
- Record checked
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